Gentlemen,

This is a very nice, smaller Schützenkette, or shooting-club chain that dates its first 'King's-reign' during the year-span of 1892 - '93.

I'd first like to say thanks again to my good friend Gary Southgate for helping me add this
example to my collection - gracias amigo! We help each other out once-in-a-while ...

Small when compared to the king's chains of some of the various regions and wealthier clubs in Germany, BAZ and I have seen some chains that had to have must've weighed in at around 25-30+ pounds of silver medallions, medals, crests, do-dads, and a variety of other well made baubles. The components of this one have been protected and stored all these years in a mint state of preservation, as luckily the chain is still with its original green-velvet and silk lined case. (maybe the luck o' St. Patty..? heh) The three main components that fashion this unit were all handcrafted by the jeweler W. Mahnke, of Hamburg on the sixth of October, 1895. (this guy was no slouch) Those three larger pieces are brilliantly hand-cut out of thick-slab silver, with some areas then gilded and all finely engraved to perfection. The last King noted is for the year 1934 and there it stops.., the entire chain taken out of circulation - maybe when the Gleichschaltung started to kick in..?

I truly wonder if this club ever started an NS-era-decorated chain? That would be one heck of a lucky find eh?

There are further three nice enameled medals and two gold/silver medallions to balance out the whole affair. The only flaw that I could find to the entire set-up was that one of the small silver ball decorations on the green-medal-cross-end was cleanly dislodged at some point in its lifespan. The medallions are similarly decorated with a nice depiction of our good old hero, Wilhelm Tell and his 'happy-as-a-clam' son.

Hope this kind of stuff inspires some of you gents to find your own niche and enjoy this great hobby!

Bill Warda

This message has been edited. Last edited by: WWII,

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Hi Bill,

WOW! drool! drool! Congratulations on a suberb catch. Bill your Schützenkette is really a beautiful piece of artistic work. Just something to behold. This thing screams history and when it comes to collecting, IMO these are at the top of the food chain and my favorite to admire. What an absolute treat and thank you for showing it.

It really gets me to wonder what happened to this very old shooting club, if anything? Would be a real nice research project. Thanks again.

That is great, Bill.

Dave

That is neat. Amazingly elaborate. The whole group would be worn around the bearers neck. Right?

A truly wonderful piece, to see the gilt on this piece in person was a treat for mine eyes, the condition is just stunning and it's in the right collection.
Nice pictures Bill, how this has survived like this I do not know.

SfK.

I read somewhere that these old shooting clubs would hide their valuables underneath the dog house of the biggest and meanest dog in town, so that when American forces swept through town they wouldn't dare think of stoping at that "dog" house. And it seems it worked most of the time.

Congrats. Bill, that's something and then some.

--dj--Joe

Sword-fish,

In short yes, like the Schützen Konig in the middle of the picture. I picked him out for you for illustration from a picture I have of two shooting clubs. Thanks for the question.

Bill,

Congrats on a great find...a real piece of history.....in the right hands....

For those that didn't know, I just wanted to add that a lot of these guys were very good gun makers in their day and of course used their weapons for these matches, which made for good advertisement.

Gents,

I'm glad you enjoyed the chain and thanks for your words encouragement.

If any of you guys thought I was over-stating
the weight of one of the bigger chains, have a look at this "good ol' boy..." he must've sounded like a one-man percussion ensemble just walking around. (hey mr. tambourine man)

Best!

Bill

Ps also note the nice Prussian-style degen that the gentleman is sporting ...

Hello,
Quite a beautiful piece Bill. Very impressive
Duzig(Bill)